Wolves comment: Who would have dared dream where Nuno would take us?

A surprise appointment four years ago and now a surprise departure.

We can speculate on what is behind this decision.

Has being away from his family during a worldwide pandemic taken its toll? Has he been tapped up? Or are the club not capable or willing to fund Nuno’s dream any further?

But perhaps that’s for another day? Now is the time to simply look back on a period that not many, if any, Wolves fans would have expected or even dared dream about.

Having supported the club for 40-odd years, most of them fairly forgettable and quiet a few of them downright depressing, I had become accustomed to the glass being half-empty at best.

Then a former Porto back-up keeper rocked up.

Like most of the Wolves faithful I was a touch sceptical about the appointment, mainly because I knew naff all about him and also because Fosun hadn’t exactly been blazing a trail when it came to appointing managers following their decisions to let Walter Zenga and Paul Lambert loose at Molineux.

Little did any us know what was to follow.

A wonderkid from Porto, a new system implemented, including the masterstroke of playing Conor Coady in a back three, and off we went. The project had started.

The Championship was negotiated with a swagger as Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota and Willy Boly proved a class above.

Magic away days at Bristol City, Cardiff, and the grand celebration at Bolton, and a few wonder goals from the wonderkid along the way.

The football was first class and so were the terrace anthems, all accompanied by Nuno’s unrelenting passion on the touchline. The bond between manager and fans was nothing like I had witnessed before.

And there was no let up, in fact it got even better as a raft of new signings set us up not to merely survive in the Premier League but actually thrive.

The big boys had their feathers ruffled by little old Wolves as the compliments from pundits and opposing fans flowed.

The FA Cup quarter-final success over Manchester United was simply spine-tingling. A night when Molineux bounced like it hadn’t bounced in decades.

A heart-breaking defeat to Watford in the last four reminded us all what being a Wolves fan was all about, but the highs continued as European qualification was secured.

With God-like status assured, Nuno then orchestrated another raft of unforgettable moments.

Torino, Besiktas and even a soaking in Braga, these were the days my friend. Even Pep’s lot were given a bloody nose, not once but twice.

The lockdown and a sobering Europa League quarter-final defeat to Sevilla slowed the momentum as a return trip to the continent failed to materialise.

But that was a new type of disappointment. Wolves just missing out on a second successive season in Europe? Who would have dreamt that?

This season has been a slog, for players, fans and most notably the man in charge.

With Molineux out of bounds, social media was the outlet for some over the top reactions.

Yes the football has been dull but injuries have played a part, the lack of fans has played a part, the world we have lived in for the past year or so has played a part.

Perhaps the Wolf pack has become a little greedy?

Because these last four years have been heady days for anyone of gold and black persuasion. And that is down to one man.

He gave us an identity, but more than that he gave us our pride back.

Nuno had a dream and it was an absolute joy to share it.